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Installation Instructions 

6F-DH 

6x6 Floating Dual Header Raftered Pergola Kit 

Pergola Kits 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

WARNING:

 If the information in these instructions is not followed exactly, weakening or failure of the erected 

structure may result causing property damage, personal injury, or loss of life. 

All brackets designed and sold by RioOutdoors.com are to be used for building pergolas only and are not to be used for 

other structure construction purposes. 

 

Thoughtfully engineered 

Brackets eliminate all 

wood-joinery skills 

requirements.

 

 

Skills required: 

leveling ground, 

drilling pilot holes, 

and driving lag screws 

into lumber.

 

 

Easy lift and place U-

channels eliminate 

need for lifting 

equipment. Super-

easy assembly work.

 

 

Self-aligning design 

squares up structure 

automatically.

 

 

Estimated Assembly 

Time is less than 1-

1/2 hours (not 

including deck). 

 

Figure 1: Items included in the kit, ( 

𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷

𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝑄𝑄

)

Items not included in this kit: wood, tools, some hardware. 

Summary of Contents for 6F-DH

Page 1: ...and are not to be used for other structure construction purposes Thoughtfully engineered Brackets eliminate all wood joinery skills requirements Skills required leveling ground drilling pilot holes and driving lag screws into lumber Easy lift and place U channels eliminate need for lifting equipment Super easy assembly work Self aligning design squares up structure automatically Estimated Assembly...

Page 2: ...HOW TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE 35 Proper pilot hole diameter and hole depth for various lag screws and wood types Lag Screw Type Wood Type Pilot hole drill diameter and hole depth X 1 1 4 Lag Screw McMasterCarr com SKU 92351A546 Soft Wood 3 32 drill bit diam 1 1 4 depth Hard Wood 3 16 drill bit diam 1 1 4 depth 3 8 X 3 Lag Screw McMasterCarr com SKU 92351A636 Soft Wood 11 64 drill bit diam 3 depth...

Page 3: ...n approvals from the local building inspection department or the local authority over building codes 1 1 2 Other Cautions CAUTION Adhere to all safety requirements Wear safety glasses goggles when working Wear safety gloves when handling brackets hardware and lumber Wear hearing protection when using a circular saw miter saw table saw or hammer drill INSTALLER Leave this manual with the consumer C...

Page 4: ...a types 7 16 Hex Socket Drive X 1 1 4 Hex Hd lag screws All pergola types 9 16 Hex Socket Drive 3 8 X 3 Hex Hd lag screws Raftered pergola single dual quad headers 3 32 Drill Bit Drill pilot holes for lag screws in soft wood All pergola types 11 64 Drill Bit Drill pilot holes for 3 8 lag screws in soft wood Raftered pergola single dual quad headers X 4 Masonry Drill Bit Drill X 2 deep holes in con...

Page 5: ...t info RioOutdoors com Include your name and shipping address and your order number if available We will respond within 24 hours with a resolution to your problem Item SKU Description Item Qty Item Image Post Top Dual Header Bracket SKU 6DH 4 6x6 Post Top Floor 2 way Elbow Bracket SKU 6C2L 4 Rafter Tie Bracket SKU 68RT 18 x 1 1 4 SS Lag Screw McMasterCarr com SKU 92351A546 160 3 8 x 3 SS Lag Screw...

Page 6: ...T YOU WILL SUPPLY OR ARE RECOMMENDED This is the list of required materials which are not included in this kit You will acquire these items locally for your project Use this table to help you calculate your total project budget Item Description Item Qty Item Cost Total Item Cost Item Image 6x6 Post Lumber You determine length 4 6x6 Floor Floating Lumber You determine length 4 2x6 or 2x8 Header Lum...

Page 7: ...g employing 2 way elbow brackets to secure the posts to the floating floor 6x6s You may choose to create a wooden deck within the pergola walls To do so you must add 2x4 beams every 24 to support the deck boards You may toenail the 2x4 beams in place or choose an easier and more precise mounting method using our 2x4 Beam Support Brackets SKU 24BS available at RioOutdoors com ...

Page 8: ...latform 2 Spray Roundup weed killer herbicide on the excavated area to prevent weed growth inside your pergola area 3 Lay thick weed control fabric over the entire pegola platform Overlap the fabric at least 6 inches where they join Use U shaped lanscaping fabric nails to anchor the fabric to the ground Alternatively you can excavate deeper about 3 inches lay the weed control fabric at the bottom ...

Page 9: ...he side elevation profile for this pergola system Dim A above is the height of the post used Dim B is the inner ceiling height of the pergola Dim B is measured to the bottom surface of the header member Post Height Dim A Dim B 96 96 92 3 4 108 108 104 3 4 120 120 116 3 4 132 132 128 3 4 144 144 140 3 4 ...

Page 10: ... All you have to do is determine the size you desire for the length and width of your pergola We recommend a maximum header length of 12 feet for 2x6 headers and 16 feet for 2x8 headers The recommended rafter lengths are 12 feet for 2x6 rafters and 16 feet for 2x8 rafters We further recommend that you allow for 18 of overhang beyond the posts on each side for the headers and 18 overhang beyond the...

Page 11: ...annels in the 2 way elbow bracket over the 6x6s 2 Place two shims under each 6x6 near the 2 way elbow 3 Push 2 way elbow bracket downward until the horizontal part of the U channels touch the 6x6 top surfaces 4 Slide 6x6s all the way in towards the center square tube in the 2 way elbow bracket ...

Page 12: ...pth indicator when you drill each pilot hole Pilot holes should be drilled at least 1 1 4 deep A little bit deeper is acceptable but do not drill less than the required 1 1 4 depth 6 Drill 3 32 X 1 1 4 pilot holes through the lower holes in the U channel s sides Only use the lower holes to anchor the floor 6x6s to the U channels ...

Page 13: ...ls 9 Repeat Steps 5 to 9 for the other three corners 10 Remove all shims from under the 6x6s 11 Tap top of 6x6s with a hammer to settle the 6x6s into the ground fabric 12 Using a 4 foot framing Level check top surfaces of all 6x6s to see if they are level Use shims as you see necessary to level all four 6x6s that are sitting on the ground ...

Page 14: ...inner faces of the 2 way elbow s vertical tube Drill 3 32 X 1 1 4 pilot holes in the center of all four 5 16 holes 3 Drive one 1 4x1 1 4 SS lag screw through each pilot hole you drilled and tighten down using a ratchet and 7 16 socket Repeat steps 1 to 3 at all corners Check top of floor 4x4 for level on more time and adjust as necessary to maintain level ...

Page 15: ... Header Bracket over the 4x4 post top after aligning the headers receiver u channels in the proper direction Let gravity work and pull the bracket all the way down on top of the post 2 Identify one 5 16 hole which is located at the center of the top surf ace of the dual header bracket ...

Page 16: ...drill bit tip This will act as a hole depth indicator when you drill each pilot hole Pilot holes should be drilled at least 1 1 4 deep A little bit deeper is acceptable but do not drill less than the required 1 1 4 depth 4 Drill a 3 32 X 1 1 4 deep pilot hole at the center of the 5 16 Hole ...

Page 17: ... one x 1 1 4 SS Hex Lag Screw through the 5 16 hole into the pilot hole you drilled in step 4 using a 7 16 Socket and Rachet driver Tighten down the screw 6 Repeat steps 1 through 5 for each post top dual header bracket ...

Page 18: ... tail design shape that you plan to cut yourself or you plan to outsource the design cutting You may have your own design that you wish to apply to the rafter tails The possibilities for rafter tail designs are endless and a minor change in detail can add a dramatic flair to your pergola design Be creative 1 11 2 Rafter Tie Brackets Installation For a dual header pergola system rafter ties are req...

Page 19: ... morning as the sun rises in the sky and earlier in the afternoon as the sun starts to sink in the sky as compared to using 16 spacings Here we assume that you selected 16 spacings for the rafters Adjust the mark location if you choose 12 rafter spacings 4 Measure outward 16 inches incrementally and mark a line at each 16 point out from center until you reach the end of the header on each side 5 S...

Page 20: ...il mark points 8 On the inner header place a rafter tie at the first pencil mark on each side of the center most pencil mark Then skip every other pencil mark and place rafter ties on alternating pencil mark as shown in the image below SKIP EVERY OTHER PENCIL LINE MARK PLACE RAFTER TIES ON THE INNER HEADER PLACE RAFTER TIES SKIP EVERY OTHER PENCIL LINE MARK ON THE OUTER HEADER ...

Page 21: ...he 5 16 holes in the Rafter Tie brackets Two 5 16 holes exist on each side of the Rafter Tie Bracket 10 Using a 7 16 Socket and Ratchet Driver drive a x 1 1 4 Lag Screw through the two holes on each side of the Rafter to secure the rafter tie to the header ...

Page 22: ...22 P a g e 11 Repeat steps 9 and 10 for all rafter ties on both headers Also assemble two headers for the other side of the pergola using the same instructions OUTER HEADER INNER HEADER ...

Page 23: ... 2 Center the header between the two posts by measuring the overhangs and moving the header until the overhang lengths on both sides are equal 3 Lift and place the inner header into the inner U channel Align end of inner header with end of outer header 4 Repeat steps 1 to 3 for the opposite side of the pergola OUTER HEADER INNER HEADER ...

Page 24: ...er headers for all four post top dual header brackets Locate pilot holes at the center of each 5 16 holes 6 Drive one x 1 1 4 Hex Lag Screw through each 5 16 hole into the pilot holes you drilled using a 7 16 Socket and Rachet driver Drive screws into both inner and outer headers Tighten down each screw 7 Repeat steps 5 and 6 for all four post top dual header brackets WING EXTENSIONS TWOSCREWTHIS ...

Page 25: ...ot hole the tape edge will indicate when you have reached the required depth 9 Locate two 7 16 holes on the decorated face of the post top dual header bracket Drill an 11 64th X 3 deep pilot hole in the center of each 7 16 hole The pilot hole will go through the header and into the 4x4 post Drill at least 3 deep or a little bit deeper not shallower TWO HOLES ON THIS SIDE ALSO ...

Page 26: ...socket and ratchet through the header and into the post through the pilot holes you drilled Tighten all screws 1 Repeat steps 9 10 for all 7 16 holes in all decorated faces in the four dual header brackets at all four post tops TWO SCREWS ON THIS SIDE ALSO ...

Page 27: ...ne rafter on a matching pair of rafter tie brackets Measure the rafter overhang on each side of the outer headers and center the rafter 2 Drill 3 32 x 1 1 4 deep pilot holes in center of two holes in the Rafter Tie bracket faces on both sides of the rafter TWO HOLES ON THIS SIDE ALSO CENTER RAFTER TIE ...

Page 28: ... socket and ratchet driver drive x 1 1 4 Lag Screws through the pilot holes you drilled in the header Two x 1 1 4 Lag Screws are required on both sides of the header 4 Repeat steps 1 to 3 and install all rafters and lag screws ...

Page 29: ...te Let us know how the construction project went for you Was it easy to do Did parts fit easily and properly Do you like the quality of our products and design styles Is your pergola structure sturdy and strong Please go to RioOutdoors com and provide us with your review Thank you for being a RioOutdoors com customer ...

Page 30: ...deck boards Using a pencil or marker mark the center locations of each beam on the inside face of the floating 6x6s to which you will attach the beams Repeat the same on the opposite sided floating 6x6 2 Attached 2x4 Beam Support Brackets to inner walls of floating 6x6s using 6X1 SS wood screws 3 Repeat step 2 for opposite side 4 Place one 2x4 of appropriate length to span between the two floating...

Page 31: ...4 Beam Support Brackets are required 1 15 INSTALLING DECK BOARDS 1 Plan and lay down your deck boards starting in the center of the pergola Work outward from the center in both directions Use the thick end of a wood shim as a spacer to leave an 1 8 1 4 gap between each board row to allow for expansion ...

Page 32: ...al post corners create notches in the deck board ends to fit around the corner post bracket and the gussets The gussets are 1 8 thick Make a cut the width of a carbide tipped circular saw blade to create a clearance slot for the corner gussets ...

Page 33: ...Let us know how the construction project went for you Was it easy to do Did parts fit easily and properly Do you like the quality of our products and design styles Is your pergola structure sturdy and strong Please go to RioOutdoors com and provide us with your review Thank you for being a RioOutdoors com customer ...

Page 34: ...n for evaluation Incomplete claims may be rejected All pergola brackets must be installed according to all manufacturers instructions as per the installation instruction manual by a RioOutdoors com All Local and National required codes must be met Repair replacement parts purchased by the consumer from RioOutdoors com after the original coverage has expired will carry a 90 day warranty valid with ...

Page 35: ...R ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR DAMAGES TO PROPERTY TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW RioOutdoors com MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES OTHER THAN THE WARRANTY SPECIFIED HEREIN THE DURATION OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY IS LIMITED TO DURATION OF THE EXPRESSED WARRANTY SPECIFIED ABOVE IF IMPLIED WARRANTIES CANNOT BE DISCLAIMED THEN SUCH WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE ...

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